Former New Zealand captain John Richard Reid, who led his country to their first ever Test win in 1956 and scored a brilliant century at the Eden Gardens in Calcutta a year before that, has died in Auckland at the age of 92.

At the time of his passing, Reid was New Zealand’s oldest surviving Test cricketer.

Reid was regarded as one of the world’s best all-rounders during his heyday in the fifties and early sixties — he was a fine stroke-player, a fast-medium bowler who could also send down the occasional off-breaks, a swift fielder and also kept wickets if the need arose.

He captained New Zealand in 34 Tests, including, most notably, the country’s first three victories, the first of which was over Denis Atkinson’s West Indies in March 1956.

“He was, and will remain, a household name in this country, having helped pave the way for everything that has come in his wake,” New Zealand Cricket chief executive David White said in a statement offering his tributes. The NZC release, however, did not specify the cause of Reid’s death.

“Our thoughts and respect are with his family at this time: wife Norli; children Alison, Richard and Ann, and all his grand-children,” White said. Reid’s son Richard represented New Zealand in nine ODIs in the late eighties and early nineties.

Born in Auckland, and educated in Wellington, Reid played 246 first-class games and scored 16128 runs at 41.35, including 39 centuries, while taking 466 wickets at 22.60. He played 58 Tests after making his debut as a 21-year-old in 1949, scoring 3428 runs at 33.28, while taking 85 wickets at 33.35. Of his six Test centuries, the highest was 142 against South Africa in the second innings of the fourth Test at Johannesburg, in February 1962.

His Test hundreds also included a sparkling 120 against India in Calcutta in 1955; a decade later he returned to the venue as captain and scored a fine 82.

Reid retired after the 1965 tour of England, a poor series in which New Zealand lost all three Tests. He later became a New Zealand selector, manager, and an ICC match referee, officiating in 50 Tests between 1993 and 2002.

International Cricket Council chief executive Manu Sawhney was among those who offered his tributes, praising Reid’s contribution to the game.

“This is a sad day for cricket. He continued to contribute to the game in various capacities after retirement and had an admirable stint as an ICC Match Referee,” said Sawhney. “I extend my heartfelt condolences from everyone at the ICC to the family of one of the greats of the game and one whose career as a player, captain and match official will be long remembered,” he added.